Twin brothers get 4 years for sex trafficking

Twin brothers from Dolton have pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to four years in prison for forcing young women into prostitution in the south suburbs, prosecutors said this morning.

Tyrelle and Myrelle Lockett, 18, pleaded guilty in the Markham courthouse Tuesday to felony charges of human trafficking for forced labor or services after an undercover sting operation found that they forced young women, including one underage victim, to perform sex acts with men for money, according to a news release.

In the sting, sheriff's police officers met with Tyrelle Lockett in a Lansing motel after they answered an Internet ad placed by the Locketts, authorities said.

The convictions were the first under a sex trafficking initiative that combines the resources of State's Attorney Anita Alvarez's office and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The brothers' operation involved making motel reservations and taking photos of the female victims for the Internet ads they created and posted, according to prosecutors. Once the meetings with clients were set, the victims would enter motel rooms to have sex with the men while the defendants waited nearby to collect payment.

The 17- and 18-year-old victims, who were not charged, told police that the brothers beat them and threatened them if they didn't perform the sex acts, and took all the money.